POLICY
The Batang Toru ecosystem, which lies in South Tapanuli regency in the province of North Sumatra, is the only ecosystem that is home to the newly-discovered Tapanuli orangutan species.
Minister Nurbaya stated that for almost four years, the ministry has continually carried out consistent ground-based monitoring to prevent, to the greatest extent possible, any negative impacts on the Tapanuli orangutans due to the hydropower construction project, while also ensuring the growth of their population.
Regarding the deadly landslide at the hydropower construction site, she said that the ministry has compiled a preliminary report connecting spatial-based measures with a ground-based dataset as part of the investigation into this serious incident.
“Referring to our preliminary findings, I have decided to start evaluating all aspects of the project developer's operations, in particular their level of legal compliance on the ground,” she declared during a technical discussion in response to the fatal landslide (May 8).
“With respect to the casualties of the landslide, the ministry team has identified a number of pertinent environmental and social issues, and is also looking at the way in which corporate governance interacts with these two aspects. This is all part of our evaluation,” she explained.
The minister pointed out that certain aspects relating to the incident, such as work accidents and negligence, fall under the authority of ministers other than her, adding that she would consider the whole issue proportionately as part of the evaluation.
Minister Nurbaya divulged that the Sentinel Hub satellite images in time-series below (delineated in yellow), which depict the situation before and after the landslide, also form part of the preliminary report.
Key preliminary findings
Minister Nurbaya revealed that among the key preliminary findings is the fact that certain technical procedures in some segments of the road network construction are not being completely followed.
“There are suspicions that the landslide is related, among other things, to the road network construction process which is yet to completely comply with the relevant procedures. This allegedly involves contractors,” she elaborated.
“We won't be evaluating all of the road network construction - only those parts indicated as cutting the contour lines. This is what I'm asking to be explored. These locations are vulnerable and they are close to where the landslide happened. It could be down to carelessness on the part of the contractors," Minister Nurbaya lamented.
She described how the road network construction project had a design for slope stabilization, but the landslide had struck before this was implemented, due in part to heavy rainfall exacerbated by topographic conditions and the types of rock in the area.
“Why hadn’t the slope there been stabilized? Of course this will all go into the evaluation, but an initial analysis indicates that not all segments of the road construction network need to be evaluated,” she reiterated.
The following photos provided by Minister Nurbaya, which derive from the ministry's ground-based observations (May 1), form part of the evidence in the investigation into the landslide.
Ensuring ecosystem-level protection
Minister Nurbaya emphasized that the evaluation is not solely aimed at averting further landslides. It will also boost the ministry's efforts to prevent the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans in the Batang Toru ecosystem, allowing them to thrive across a vast landscape.
The Google Earth images below portray the Tapanuli orangutan habitat, almost double the size of Singapore, in the Batang Toru ecosystem (delineated in yellow) and the hydropower project site (delineated in white). This still predominantly forested ecosystem constitutes a significant part of the map of President Joko Widodo's permanent moratorium on the conversion of primary forests and peatlands.
Possible sanctions
According to Minister Nurbaya, the preservation of the Batang Toru ecosystem is not only intended to prevent the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans and ensure the growth of their population, but also to strengthen Indonesia's efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuel-based energy.
“So, I’m clearly not trying to safeguard the business interests of the project developer NSHE in this matter,” she stressed.
“If NSHE is proven to have neglected procedures in the road network construction process in its operations, then strict sanctions will be imposed on the company and they will be held responsible," she warned.
Minister Nurbaya added that the ministry is also evaluating how AMDAL (Environmental Impact Assessment) measures were adopted in the company's ground operations. This includes the extent to which AMDAL revisions, as ordered by the minister and approved by the North Sumatra governor last year, were implemented.
“The overall target of the revised AMDAL was to enhance the protection of the Tapanuli orangutans amid the construction and operations of the hydropower construction project. Due to this tragic landslide, the level to which the revised AMDAL has been adopted on the ground will also definitely play a part in the evaluation,” she said in conclusion.
Ready for evaluation
NSHE was asked for a response to Minister Nurbaya's move to evaluate all relevant aspects of its operations.
“As a company operating in the Batang Toru watershed under an environmental permit obtained from the North Sumatra Provincial Environment Office, we are ready to be evaluated at any time according to existing regulations. This will certainly be used as a means of improvement,” NSHE Director of Communications and Cooperation Firman Taufick told FORESTHINTS.NEWS in writing (May 9).
RELATED STORIES
POLICY
The Batang Toru ecosystem, which lies in South Tapanuli regency in the province of North Sumatra, is the only ecosystem that is home to the newly-discovered Tapanuli orangutan species.
Minister Nurbaya stated that for almost four years, the ministry has continually carried out consistent ground-based monitoring to prevent, to the greatest extent possible, any negative impacts on the Tapanuli orangutans due to the hydropower construction project, while also ensuring the growth of their population.
Regarding the deadly landslide at the hydropower construction site, she said that the ministry has compiled a preliminary report connecting spatial-based measures with a ground-based dataset as part of the investigation into this serious incident.
“Referring to our preliminary findings, I have decided to start evaluating all aspects of the project developer's operations, in particular their level of legal compliance on the ground,” she declared during a technical discussion in response to the fatal landslide (May 8).
“With respect to the casualties of the landslide, the ministry team has identified a number of pertinent environmental and social issues, and is also looking at the way in which corporate governance interacts with these two aspects. This is all part of our evaluation,” she explained.
The minister pointed out that certain aspects relating to the incident, such as work accidents and negligence, fall under the authority of ministers other than her, adding that she would consider the whole issue proportionately as part of the evaluation.
Minister Nurbaya divulged that the Sentinel Hub satellite images in time-series below (delineated in yellow), which depict the situation before and after the landslide, also form part of the preliminary report.
Key preliminary findings
Minister Nurbaya revealed that among the key preliminary findings is the fact that certain technical procedures in some segments of the road network construction are not being completely followed.
“There are suspicions that the landslide is related, among other things, to the road network construction process which is yet to completely comply with the relevant procedures. This allegedly involves contractors,” she elaborated.
“We won't be evaluating all of the road network construction - only those parts indicated as cutting the contour lines. This is what I'm asking to be explored. These locations are vulnerable and they are close to where the landslide happened. It could be down to carelessness on the part of the contractors," Minister Nurbaya lamented.
She described how the road network construction project had a design for slope stabilization, but the landslide had struck before this was implemented, due in part to heavy rainfall exacerbated by topographic conditions and the types of rock in the area.
“Why hadn’t the slope there been stabilized? Of course this will all go into the evaluation, but an initial analysis indicates that not all segments of the road construction network need to be evaluated,” she reiterated.
The following photos provided by Minister Nurbaya, which derive from the ministry's ground-based observations (May 1), form part of the evidence in the investigation into the landslide.
Ensuring ecosystem-level protection
Minister Nurbaya emphasized that the evaluation is not solely aimed at averting further landslides. It will also boost the ministry's efforts to prevent the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans in the Batang Toru ecosystem, allowing them to thrive across a vast landscape.
The Google Earth images below portray the Tapanuli orangutan habitat, almost double the size of Singapore, in the Batang Toru ecosystem (delineated in yellow) and the hydropower project site (delineated in white). This still predominantly forested ecosystem constitutes a significant part of the map of President Joko Widodo's permanent moratorium on the conversion of primary forests and peatlands.
Possible sanctions
According to Minister Nurbaya, the preservation of the Batang Toru ecosystem is not only intended to prevent the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans and ensure the growth of their population, but also to strengthen Indonesia's efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuel-based energy.
“So, I’m clearly not trying to safeguard the business interests of the project developer NSHE in this matter,” she stressed.
“If NSHE is proven to have neglected procedures in the road network construction process in its operations, then strict sanctions will be imposed on the company and they will be held responsible," she warned.
Minister Nurbaya added that the ministry is also evaluating how AMDAL (Environmental Impact Assessment) measures were adopted in the company's ground operations. This includes the extent to which AMDAL revisions, as ordered by the minister and approved by the North Sumatra governor last year, were implemented.
“The overall target of the revised AMDAL was to enhance the protection of the Tapanuli orangutans amid the construction and operations of the hydropower construction project. Due to this tragic landslide, the level to which the revised AMDAL has been adopted on the ground will also definitely play a part in the evaluation,” she said in conclusion.
Ready for evaluation
NSHE was asked for a response to Minister Nurbaya's move to evaluate all relevant aspects of its operations.
“As a company operating in the Batang Toru watershed under an environmental permit obtained from the North Sumatra Provincial Environment Office, we are ready to be evaluated at any time according to existing regulations. This will certainly be used as a means of improvement,” NSHE Director of Communications and Cooperation Firman Taufick told FORESTHINTS.NEWS in writing (May 9).
RELATED STORIES
|.ABOUT US. |
SATELLITE MONITORING. |
CYBER MEDIA GUIDELINES
© 2016 - 2021
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
